Fluid container closure system

ABSTRACT

A fluid container closure system includes a fluid outlet, a neck finish adjacent to the fluid outlet, wherein the neck finish includes a retaining rim, protruding in a radial outward direction and encircling the neck finish. A screw cap includes a base with a top deck and a skirt and a tamper evident band with a base having a lateral inner surface. The screw cap includes a predetermined breaking structure along which the skirt and the tamper evident band are interconnected. The tamper evident band includes a lip extending along the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident band base and inwardly therefrom, wherein the lip includes a hinge section and a retaining surface configured so when the screw cap is initially applied to the fluid container, the lip is folded upward about the hinge section such that the retaining surface in an applied position of the screw cap is positioned underneath the retaining rim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fluid container closure system, inparticular, a screw cap for containers for liquids such as soft drinks,but is well adaptable to seal other containers such as glass or PETcontainers with contents at above or below atmospheric pressure orhaving gaseous components or requiring a hermetic seal.

Discussion of Related Art

Packages for liquids, such as beverages, are often closed by screw capswhich can be removed before usage and allow the packages to be sealedagain after usage, such as pouring the liquid out of the fluidcontainer. The screw cap seals the container if attached and furtherprevents a contamination of the liquid.

Many of the screw caps at present are of the tamper evident type, usinga tamper evident band interconnected to a base of the screw cap by abreaking structure. After tearing the breaking structure connecting thebase to the tamper evident band, the tamper evident band e.g. falls awayleaving a visual gap between the base and the tamper evident band, suchthat it can easily be detected that the container had been opened.

An object underlying the present invention is to provide means forclosing and opening a fluid container wherein tampering of the fluidcontainer is made reliably evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fluid container closure system is proposed, comprising a fluidcontainer which comprises a fluid outlet, a neck finish adjacent to thefluid outlet, wherein the neck finish includes a retaining rim arrangeda distance apart from the fluid outlet, protruding in a radial outwarddirection encircling the neck finish in a circumferential direction.Depending on the field of application, the retaining rim usually acts asa neck support rim, which may be configured for use in production linesto facilitate handling of the fluid container, for example when it isgripped by the neck support rim. The fluid container closure systemfurther comprises a screw cap for sealing the fluid outlet, the screwcap comprising a base including a top deck and a skirt extendingdownward therefrom. Further, the screw cap comprises a tamper evidentband comprising a base with a lateral inner surface. The screw capfurther comprises a predetermined breaking structure along which theskirt and the tamper evident band are interconnected. Good results canbe achieved when the predetermined breaking structure is provided by aknife in a scoring process in which the skirt is locally scored.Alternatively, or in addition, the predetermined breaking structure maycomprise at least one frangible element (bridge) generated preferably byan injection moulding process along with the rest of the screw cap.

The tamper evident band comprises a lip extending at least in partcircumferentially along the inner lateral surface of the tamper evidentbands base and projects inwardly therefrom, wherein the lip comprises ahinge section and a retaining surface, and wherein the lip is configuredin such a way that, when the screw cap is initially applied to the fluidcontainer, the lip is folded upward about the hinge section such thatthe retaining surface in an applied position of the screw cap ispositioned underneath the retaining rim.

When the screw cap is initially opened, the tamper evident band isretained against upward displacement by the retaining surface abuttingthe retaining rim of the fluid containers neck finish, therebyseparating the base of the screw cap from the base of the tamper evidentband and breaking the predetermined breaking structure. The tamperevident band is configured to then drop away from the retaining rim.

Generally, the terms downward, inward and upward are used with referenceto the axis around which the screw cap is screwed or the longitudinalaxis of the neck finish of the fluid container. Hence, inward isunderstood to generally mean radially toward the axis whilst downwardand upward are generally understood to mean approximately parallel tothe axis.

The predetermined breaking structure is configured to break when thebase of the screw cap is unscrewed from the neck finish of the fluidcontainer. This is achieved in particular by tensile strain appliedacross the predetermined breaking structure which overcomes itsstructural integrity. The tensile strain is caused by the tamper evidentband being prevented from upward displacement past the retaining rim ofthe fluid containers neck finish, due to the lips retaining surfacejamming against the retaining rim, while the base of the screw cap movesupward and away from the tamper evident band, in particular its base. Asthe base and the tamper evident band separate from one another, thetamper evident band is free to drop away from the retaining rim and reston a part of the fluid container with a larger diameter than the neckfinish, for example a shoulder part of the fluid container. When thetamper evident band has dropped away from the retaining rim, it exposesa gap between the tamper evident band and the base of the screw cap whenthe latter is re-applied to the fluid container for sealing. This gapshows the user that the fluid container has been tampered with or thefluid container has already been opened at least once.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the base of thetamper evident band comprises an upper rim configured to abut the screwcap base while the screw cap initially seals the fluid container and alower rim directed away from the screw cap base, wherein the lipprojects inwardly from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evidentbands base in its upper half section. Preferably, the lip projectsinwardly from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident bands basefrom a position nearer to the upper rim than to the lower rim. Goodanti-tamper results are achieved when the lip projects inwardly from theinner lateral surface of the tamper evident bands base in its upperthird section. Initial sealing of the fluid container is considered togenerally include the first time the screw cap is applied to the fluidcontainer and before breakage of the predetermined structure occurs.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip, inparticular the base section of the lip, may comprise gas release meansconfigured to release gas from a carbonated drink product or a drinkproduct under pressure when the screw cap is unscrewed. The gas releasemeans may include cutouts, for examples holes or slits, in the lip. Whenthe screw cap is unscrewed from the fluid container, gas from theinterior of the fluid container may initially be released in arelatively limited and controlled amount via the gas release means,helping to prevent explosive gas release and spillage of the drink. Thegas release means may contribute to structural weakening of the lip inthe area of the hinge, in particular stiffness reduction and/orelasticity increase of the lip.

The hinge section of the lips base section preferably comprises an areaof structural weakening of the lip and may be thinner than other partsof the lip. In particular, the lip may comprise cutouts as a measure ofstructural weakening. The cutouts may be arranged in or adjacent thehinge section of the lip.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip comprisesa base section and an end section, wherein the base section isinterconnected to the inner lateral surface of tamper evident bands baseand includes the hinge section, and wherein the end section is directedtoward the base of the screw cap and at least one part of the endsection is thinner than a part of the base section of the lip. Forexample, as the part of end section which is thinner than a part of thebase section of the tip, the end section may comprise a staggered form,in particular including at least one step, whereby the retaining surfaceincludes a surface of the step.

The base of the tamper evident base is preferably in the shape of asleeve or collar.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the at least onethinner part of the end section of the lip, in applied position of thescrew cap, is at least partially arranged, in particular clamped,between the retaining rim and the inner lateral surface of the screw capbase, in particular the inner lateral surface of the skirt. The basesection of the lip may be formed as a seat extending circumferentiallyalong the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular theskirt, the seat including the retaining surface. However, the lip may bediscontinuous and consist of a series of subsidiary lips, of which atleast one subsidiary lip is shaped according to the description of a lipin this document.

Preferably, the retaining surface has a surface normal projecting awayfrom the base section of the lip, in particular a surface normalprojecting toward the underside of the retaining rim of the fluidcontainers neck finish.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, when the screw caphas once been applied to the fluid container, the lip is shaped to curveup and away from the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident bandsbase in a hook-like manner. For example, the lip may be U-shaped,wherein the inner lateral surface of the tamper evident bands baseconstitutes one side of the U-shape and the curved up lip the other sideof the U-shape.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the at least onethinner part of the end section of the lip comprises at least oneprojection that extends upward from the retaining surface of the lip. Inthe applied position of the screw cap, the at least one projection maybe arranged, in particular clamped, between the retaining rim and theinner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the innerlateral surface of the skirt. In a variation, the at least one thinnerpart of the end section of the lip comprises a plurality of suchprojections extending upward from the retaining surface in the manner ofmerlons of a crenellation.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the lip is formedintegrally with the tamper evident band.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, the inner lateralsurface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateral surfaceof the skirt, comprises at least one inwardly directed protrusionarranged laterally opposite the retaining rim. Preferably, the at leastone thinner part of the end section of the lip is laterally supported bythe inwardly directed protrusion.

In a variation of the fluid container closure system, a plurality ofinwardly directed protrusions is arranged along the inner lateralsurface of the screw cap base, in particular along the inner lateralsurface of the skirt, each protrusion being arranged laterally oppositethe retaining rim and a plurality of thinner parts of the end section ofthe lip are preferably arranged, in particular clamped, therebetween.

As the screw cap base is removed by a user, in particular raised bytwisting off, the tamper evident band is immobilized both vertically bymeans of the retaining surface jammed against the underside of the fluidcontainers retaining rim and immobilized laterally by means of thethinner part of the lips end section arranged, in particular clamped,between the inner lateral surface of the screw cap base, in particularthe inner lateral surface of the skirt, and the retaining rim. Thisleads results in a tensile strain across the predetermined breakingstructure, thus breaking it. Breaking the closure of the fluid containerin such a manner reliably allows the tamper evident band to remain onthe fluid container whilst cleanly removing the screw cap base forrepeated closure and opening, if desired.

In a variation, the base of the screw cap comprises an inner thread forengagement with the thread on the neck of a bottle. For example, thebase of the screw cap comprises an inner wall extending downward fromthe underside of the bases top deck, wherein the thread is provided onthe inner lateral surface of this inner wall. The skirt of the screwcaps base may be considered an outer wall arranged laterally opposite,and radially outside, the inner wall with a lateral gap provided betweenthem. The inner wall may comprise a termination in the form of a freeend directed toward the bottom, in particular toward the tamper evidentbands base. Alternatively, or in addition, the inner wall and the innerlateral surface of the skirt are interconnected by a shoulder section inwhich the inner wall merges with the skirt.

Good results are achieved when the inner thread is arranged on the innerwall and the inwardly directed lip is arranged on the inner lateralsurface of the tamper evident band which is radially spaced apart fromthe inner wall. Preferably, the hinge section of the lip is arrangedradially outside of the inner wall. The inner wall and the inner lateralsurface of the screw caps base, in particular the skirt, may be spacedapart by a lateral gap.

In an aspect of the invention, a screw cap according to a fluidcontainer closure system described in this document, in particular asused in such a fluid container closure, in provided.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments, and are intendedto provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature andcharacter of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included toprovide a further understanding, and are incorporated into andconstitute a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The herein described invention will be more fully understood from thedetailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawingswhich should not be considered limiting to the invention described inthe appended claims. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles andoperation of the concepts disclosed, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view onto a screw cap as initially applied to afluid container;

FIG. 2 is a close-up of the boxed-in area according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the screw cap according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is section view of the fluid container closure system wherein thescrew cap is in an applied state;

FIG. 5 is a close-up of the boxed-in area according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in afirst state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from thetamper evident band;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in asecond state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from thetamper evident band;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view onto a fluid container closure system in athird state where the base of the screw cap has been separated from thetamper evident band;

FIG. 9 is a further variation of a screw cap in a perspective view fromabove and partially cut;

FIG. 10 is the screw cap according to FIG. 9 in a perspective view frombelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, butnot all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used torefer to like components or parts. The words used in the specificationare words of description rather than limitation, and it is understoodthat various changes may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screw cap 300 in its applied positionon the neck finish of a fluid container (not shown) before the sealedfluid container has been opened the first time by a user. The screw cap300 preferably consists of a synthetic material such as plastic, inparticular HDPE (high density polyethylene), LDPE (low densitypolyethylene) or PP (polypropylene) or a combination of these materials,and is preferably injection molded. The screw cap 300 comprises a base301 which includes a top deck 302 and a skirt 303 extending downwardtherefrom. The base 301 of the screw cap 300 further comprises athreaded inner surface, in particular an inner wall 304 comprising athread 305 matching that of the fluid containers neck finish. Thepreferably cylindrical inner wall 304 extends downwards from theunderside of the screw caps top deck 302 some distance beforeterminating at a free end preferably above the level of tamper evidentband 320. The top deck 302 also includes an overhang 306 extendinglaterally beyond the skirt 303, the edge region of the overhang 306being curved downward toward the fluid container. The outer surface ofthe skirt 303 comprises a grip structure 307 to facilitate gripping ofthe screw cap by the user, the grip structure in particular beingconfigured to direct the users fingers downward toward the predeterminedbreaking structure 309. To that end, the grip structure 307 preferablycomprises a series of struts 308 leading from the edge region of theoverhang 306 to the lower end of the base 301 adjacent the predeterminedbreaking structure 309. The struts 308 extend downward and are slopedinward. They are shaped as downward facing tabs or teeth, for example.As the user grips the screw cap 300, due to the inward slope of thestruts 308, the users fingers will grip the screw cap 300 most naturallyand firmly at or near the predetermined breaking structure 309.

The base 301 of the screw cap 300 further comprises a lateral innersurface 310, preferably the inner surface of the skirt 303. The lateralinner surface 310 may be a cylindrical wall extending downward from theunderside of the screw caps top deck 302 with an inner diameter largerthan the outer diameter of the inner wall 304, thereby providing alateral space between the lateral inner surface and the inner wall.

From the lateral inner surface 310, at least one inwardly directedprotrusion 311 extends, in particular a series of inwardly directedprotrusions 311, preferably spaced at regular intervals along the innerlateral surface of the screw cap base, in particular the inner lateralsurface 310 of the skirt. The protrusions 311 are arranged opposite thelip 322 of the tamper evident band 320, in particular laterally oppositethe upwardly directed projections 323 of the lip 322, as described infurther detail below. Further, the inwardly directed protrusions 311 arepreferably provided adjacent and just above the predetermined breakingstructure 309. The protrusions 311 preferably each have a widthcorresponding approximately to the width of the upwardly directedprojections 323 of the tamper evident band 320, described in furtherdetail below, opposite which they lie. For example, the protrusions 311are dome-shaped with a circular or elliptical contour and footprint onthe inner lateral surface 310 of the screw cap base 301, in particularthe inner lateral surface of the skirt 303. The shape and arrangement ofeach of the protrusions 323 relative to other elements of the fluidcontainer closure system or screw cap, when a plurality of suchprotrusions 323 are provided, applies also to the shape and arrangementof one single protrusion, in case only one such protrusion is provided.

The predetermined breaking structure 309 comprises a structurallyweakened section of the screw cap 300, in particular a particularly thinor perforated section of the screw cap or a line of cutouts between thebase 300 and the tamper evident band 320. The cutouts may be provided bya knife in a scoring process in which the skirt of the screw cap base islocally scored.

The tamper evident band 320 is generally shaped as a sleeve or collarand comprises a base with an inner lateral surface 321 from which a lip322 extends inward. As the screw cap 300 in this drawing is shown in itsstate of first application to the fluid container, the lip 322 is shownfolded upwards along a hinge section 324 and is approximately U-shapedas described earlier in this document. Prior to first application of thescrew cap 300 to the fluid container, however, the lip 322 may extend ina plane away from the inner lateral surface 321, the plane preferablybeing at a downwardly directed or obtuse angle relative to the innerlateral surface 321. The plane of the lip 322 prior to first applicationof the screw cap may alternatively extend inwardly from the innerlateral surface 321 perpendicularly or at an acute or upwardly directedangle. Preferably, the tamper evident band is configured to have a lipwith an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the fluidcontainers retaining rim.

The lip 322 comprises a base section 322 a which meets and extends awayfrom the inner lateral surface 321 of the base of the tamper evidentband 320 and an end section 322 b directed away from said inner lateralsurface. The end section 322 b of the lip 322 comprises parts which arethinner than the base section 322 a, preferably comprising at least one,preferably a series of projections 323 which are thinner than and extendaway from the base section 322 a of the lip. Upon first application ofthe screw cap 300 to the fluid container, these projections 323 areupwardly directed. The transition surface of the lip 322 between its endsection 322 b and its base section 322 a comprises a retaining surface325 configured to abut the underside of a retaining rim 23 (see FIGS. 4,5 and 7) on the fluid containers neck finish 22 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 7)when the tamper evident band 320 experiences an upwardly directed forceor tug caused by unscrewing the screw cap 300, in particular the base301 of the screw cap. The lip 322 comprising the arrangement of basesection 322 a and end section 322 b with projections 323 extendingupward therefrom is shaped in the manner of a crenellation, wherein themerlons of the crenellation correspond to the upwardly directedprojections 323. The projections 323 are generally shaped as tabs orteeth, in particular as rectangular tabs. The base section 322 a of thelip 322 comprises a series of holes, in particular cutouts 326, forexample to improve elasticity of the lip 322 and/or to initiate gradualdecompression of gas, as gas release means, when the fluid container isopened. These cutouts may be part of the hinge section 324 of the lipsbase section 322 a.

Although the lip 322 is shown here to comprise a base section 322 aextending circumferentially along the inner lateral surface 321 of thetamper evident band, the lip 322 may instead be shorter and extend onlypartially along the inner lateral surface 321. Further, the lip 322 maycomprise a series of subsidiary lips, each shaped in the manner of a lipalready described with a base section 322 a and an end section 322 b,which are spaced at regular intervals along the inner lateral surface321.

Following first application of the screw cap 300 to the fluid container20, when initially opening the screw cap 300, as its skirt 303 isgripped by the users fingers and the base 301 of the screw cap 300removed, in particular twisted off, the tamper evident band 320 is keptin position, in particular is prevented from lateral and verticaldisplacement, leading to a tensile force across the predeterminedbreaking structure 309 overcoming the structural integrity of thepredetermined breaking structure.

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the boxed in part shown inFIG. 1. Protrusions 311 extend laterally away from the inner lateralsurface 310 of the base 301 of the screw cap 300, in particular from theinner lateral surface of the skirt 303, and lie opposite the upwardlydirected projections 323 of the lip 322 in its end section 322 b. Thelip 322 extends away inwardly from the base of the tamper evident band320 at a height L2 which is less than the height of the tamper evidentbands base L1, in particular at its upper rim 330, hence preferablyL1>L2. L2 is preferably in the top half section, in particular top thirdsection of the tamper evident bands base and/or nearer its upper rim 330than its lower rim 331. The retaining surface 325 with a surface normaldirected toward the underside of the retaining rim 23 of the fluidcontainers neck finish 22 is shown as an intermediate surface betweenthe end section 322 b and base section 322 a of the lip 322.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the screw cap 300 shown in FIG. 1. Theprotrusions 311 extending laterally away from the inner lateral surface310 of the base 301 of the screw cap 300, in particular its skirt, isshown to have an elliptical dome-shape.

FIG. 3 also shows the tamper evident bands base to comprise an upper rim330 and a lower rim 331, the upper rim 330 being configured to abut thelower rim of the skirt of the screw cap base 301. The lower rim 331 isdirected away from the screw cap base 301 and may, when the screw caphas been unscrewed at least partially, fall to rest on the outer surfaceof the fluid container at a position below the retaining rim 23 (seeFIGS. 5 to 8) of the fluid containers neck finish. The lip 322projecting inwardly from the inner lateral surface 321 of the tamperevident bands base does so from a position at distance from the lowerrim 331 of the tamper evident bands base. In particular, the position ofthe lower rim 331 of the tamper evident bands base is preferably lowerthan the lowest extent of the lip 322. In the present example, the lipprojects inwardly from the inner lateral surface 321 from a positionnearer to the upper rim 330 of the tamper evident bands base than to thelower rim 331. The lip 322 may project inwardly from the inner lateralsurface 321 in the upper half or upper third section of the tamperevident bands base (see FIG. 2).

This position of the lip 322 at a distance from the lower rim 331 anddeeper in the interior of the screw cap 300 is poorly accessible fromthe outside by a person or tool and makes unfolding the lip 322 once thefluid container has been sealed difficult.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the screw cap 300 as first applied to thefluid container 20 showing engagement of the screw cap 300 with the neckfinish 22 of the fluid container 20, in particular a thread provided onsaid neck finish.

FIG. 5 is a close up the boxed in area B of the fluid container closuresystem 1 as shown in FIG. 4 and shows the retaining surface 325 of thelip 322 underneath, in particular vertically underneath the retainingrim 23 of the fluid containers neck finish. The retaining rim 23includes an annular band surrounding the neck finish. The annular bandmay be flat or comprise some thickness, as shown in this Figure. Itcomprises a preferably flat underside configured to engage with theretaining surface of the lips end section, preferably also configured toengage a gripping device or holder provided at a beverage productionline. In vertical direction, an area of the retaining rim 23 overlaps anarea of the retaining surface of the lip. The projections 323 of the endsection 322 b of the lip 322 are shown to be wedged in or clampedbetween the lateral projection 311 of the screw caps base inner lateralsurface 310, in particular its skirt 303, and the retaining rim 23 ofthe fluid containers neck finish 22, in particular the lateral edge ofthe neck finish.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show various states of the fluid container closure system 1after initial application of the screw cap 300 to a fluid container 20.In particular, FIG. 6 shows the tamper evident band 320 separated fromthe base 301 of the screw cap 300, the outer surface of the skirt 303and the struts 308 of the grip structure being visible. FIG. 7 shows thesame tamper evident band 320 which has dropped lower along the fluidcontainers neck finish 22 and FIG. 8 shows the base 301 of the screw cap300 as reapplied to the fluid container 20 with a gap visible to theuser from the outside between the dropped tamper evident band 320 andthe base 301 of the screw cap 300.

FIG. 8 also shows the state of the fluid container having been opened atleast once after initial sealing, wherein the tamper evident band 320and the screw cap base 301 are separated in the vertical direction by aspace. Preferably, the upwardly directed projections 323 of the tamperevident bands lip 322 are visible within this gap. In this way, the useror handler of the fluid container can readily identify that it has beenopened at least once following initial sealing. Were the attempt made torejoin, at least superficially, the tamper evident band 320 with thescrew cap base 301, for example by sliding the tamper evident band 320up and past the retaining rim 23, the latter could not be bypassedwithout visibly damaging or deforming the tamper evident band.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 each show a further variation of the screw cap 300,wherein FIG. 9 is an angled perspective view from the top of the screwcap 300 and FIG. 10 is an angled perspective view from the bottom. Thescrew cap 300 in general corresponds to the screw cap 300 as shown anddescribed in connection with the preceding Figures. With respect to thegeneral description, therefore, reference is made to these drawings andtheir description. Differing from the variations according to FIGS. 1 to8, however, is the inner wall 304, which in the present variation is notspaced apart by a lateral gap from the skirt 303. Instead, the innerwall 304 is not terminated at a free end as described with reference toFIG. 1 but merges into the skirt 303 via a shoulder section 333. Theshoulder section 333 bridges the difference between radius R1 ordiameter R1 of the inner wall 304 and the radius R2 or diameter R2 ofthe inner lateral surface of the skirt 303, where preferably R2>R1. R2may correspond to the maximum radius or diameter of the inner lateralsurface of the skirt 303. In general, in the shoulder section 333, thediameter R1 of the inner wall 304 increases in direction of the tamperevident band 320. This arrangement advantageously results in weight andmaterial savings. The diameter of the tamper evident band 320, at leastat its upper rim 330, corresponds at least to that of the lower end ofthe skirt 303 where the predetermined breaking structure is provided,preferably resulting in an essentially flush outer surface transitionbetween the skirt 303 and the tamper evident band.

In both Figures, the lip 322 is shown with downwardly directedprotrusions 323 which, when the screw cap is made to initially seal thefluid container, will be flipped upward such that they point upwardtoward the screw cap base 301 and are then laterally opposite theprojections 311 along the inner lateral surface of the skirt 303.

1. A fluid container closure system (1), comprising: a. a fluidcontainer (20), comprising i. a fluid outlet (21), ii. a neck finish(22) adjacent to the fluid outlet (21), the neck finish (22) including aretaining rim (23) arranged a distance apart from the fluid outlet (21),and b. a screw cap (300) for sealing the fluid outlet, comprising: i. abase (301) including a top deck (302), an inner lateral surface (310)and a downward extending skirt (303), ii. a tamper evident band (320)comprising a base with a lateral inner surface (321), iii. apredetermined breaking structure (309) along which the skirt (303) andthe base of the tamper evident band (320) are interconnected, whereinthe tamper evident band (320) further comprises c. a lip (322) extendingat least in part circumferentially along the inner lateral surface (321)and projecting inwardly therefrom, wherein the lip (322) comprises ahinge section (324) and a retaining surface (325), and wherein the lip(322) is configured in such a way that, when the screw cap (300) isinitially applied to the fluid container (20), the lip (322) is foldedupward about the hinge section (324) such that the retaining surface(325) in an applied position of the screw cap (300) is positionedunderneath the retaining rim (23).
 2. The fluid container closure system(1) according to claim 1, wherein the base of the tamper evident band(320) comprises an upper rim (330) configured to abut the screw cap base(301) while the screw cap initially seals the fluid container and alower rim (331) directed away from the screw cap base (301), wherein thelip (322) projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface (321) of thetamper evident band's base in its upper half section.
 3. The fluidcontainer closure system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the lip (322)projects inwardly from the inner lateral surface (321) of the tamperevident band's base from a position nearer to the upper rim (330) thanto the lower rim.
 4. The fluid container closure system (1) according toclaim 1, wherein the lip (322) comprises a base section (322 a) and anend section (322 b), wherein the base section (322 a) is interconnectedto the inner lateral surface (321) of the tamper evident band (320) baseand includes the hinge section (324), and wherein the end section (322b) is directed toward the base (301) of the screw cap (300) and at leastone part of the end section (322 b) is thinner than a part of the basesection (322 a) of the lip (322).
 5. The fluid container according toclaim 4, wherein the at least one thinner part of the end section (322b) of the lip (322), in an applied position of the screw cap (300), isat least partially is arranged between the retaining rim (23) and theinner lateral surface of the skirt (303).
 6. The fluid containeraccording to claim 5, wherein the at least one thinner part of the endsection (322 b) of the lip (322) comprises at least one projection (323)extending upward from the retaining surface (325) of the lip (322),wherein the at least one projection (323) is in the applied position ofthe screw cap (300) arranged between the retaining rim (23) and theinner lateral surface (310) of the skirt (303).
 7. The fluid containerclosure system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the at least onethinner part of the end section (322 b) of the lip (322) comprises aplurality of projections (323) extending upward from the retainingsurface (325) in the manner of merlons of a crenellation.
 8. The fluidcontainer according to claim 1, wherein the inner lateral surface (310)of the skirt (303) comprises at least one inwardly directed protrusion(311) arranged laterally opposite the retaining rim (23).
 9. The fluidcontainer according to claim 8, wherein at least one thinner part of theend section (322 b) of the lip (322) is laterally supported by the atleast one inwardly directed protrusion (311).
 10. The fluid receptacleclosure system (1) according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of inwardlydirected protrusions (311) are arranged along the inner lateral surface(310) of the skirt (303), each protrusion (311) being arranged laterallyopposite the retaining rim (23) and a plurality of thinner parts of theend section (322 b) of the lip (322) are positioned therebetween. 11.The fluid receptacle closure system (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe base (301) of the screw cap (300) comprises an inner wall (304)extending downward from the underside of the screw cap base's top deck(302), further wherein a thread (305) is provided on the inner lateralsurface of the inner wall (304).
 12. The fluid receptacle closure system(1) according to claim 11, wherein the inner wall (304) and the innerlateral surface (310) of the skirt (303) are spaced apart by a gap(332).
 13. The fluid receptacle closure system (1) according to claim12, wherein the inner wall (304) and the inner lateral surface (321) ofthe tamper evident band base are interconnected by a shoulder (333). 14.The fluid receptacle closure system (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe hinge section (324) of the lip (322) is arranged radially outside ofthe inner wall (304).
 15. The fluid receptacle closure system (1)according to claim 1, wherein the lip (322) comprises cutouts (326). 16.The fluid receptacle closure system (1) according to claim 15, whereinthe cutouts (326) are arranged in or adjacent the hinge section (324) ofthe lip.
 17. The fluid receptacle closure system (1) according to claim1, wherein the lip (322) is formed integrally with the tamper evidentband (320).
 18. A screw cap (300) according to the fluid containerclosure system (1) according to claim 1.